Abstract
CALCUTTA. Asiatic Society of Bengal, August 6.—E. Digby. Nor'-westers and monsoon prediction. Nor'-westers have hitherto received little scientific attention. The entire literature is covered by a monograph by Sir John Eliot in 1876 and certain observations in a paper of his in 1910 on the anemographic records of Saugor Island. His observations and deductions are summarised. The structure of a typical nor'-wester is analysed. Its form and motion appear to show it is not a cyclonic eddy but a rectilinear splitting of the still-air layer between the lower southerly and upper northerly wind, which takes place transversely to the direction of motion of the storm mass. The absence of hail and the rapidity of the motion support this theory. A typically complete nor'-wester indicates a strong northerly upper current, and therefore the probability that the advance of the monsoon will be delayed. Weak or ill-formed nor'-westers indicate a weak upper current and little opposition to the monsoon. The factors that require study are briefly enumerated and divided into those which can be noted by individual observers and those which require coordinated effort.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Societies and Academies . Nature 92, 25 (1913). https://doi.org/10.1038/092025a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/092025a0